The Social Democratic Party, SDP has approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, seeking an order staying the execution of a Federal High Court judgment that recognised Salawu-Adeniyi Mustapha Olaitan as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election, pending the determination of its appeal.
The application, contained in a Motion on Notice filed before the appellate court, also seeks to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from taking any steps to implement the judgment until the appeal is heard and determined.
Court documents showed that the appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1011/2026, arose from the judgment delivered on June 24, 2026, by Justice Mohammed Garuba Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026.
The SDP is the appellant/applicant in the matter, while Salawu-Adeniyi Mustapha Olaitan, INEC, the party’s expelled National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, and expelled National Youth Leader Uchechukwu Chukwuma, who are both facing criminal prosecution at the Wuse Magistrate court are also listed as respondents.
The motion was brought pursuant to Section 17 of the Court of Appeal Act, Order 4 Rule 6(2) of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021, and the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
Among the principal reliefs sought is an order for stay of the execution of the Federal High Court judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
The party is also asking the appellate court to restrain INEC, either by itself, its officers, agents or privies, from enforcing or giving effect to the judgment pending
